Undergraduate pre-sessional English  Studying undergraduate pre-sessional English

Study a pre-sessional course to improve your English language level and prepare for your undergraduate degree.

Benefits of studying pre-sessional English

  • Experience and adapt to academic study in the UK ahead of your degree. 
  • Improve your English language level, to meet the entry requirements for your undergraduate degree, if needed. 
  • Develop your academic English skills (including reading, writing, listening and speaking) at undergraduate level.
  • Become familiar with the University facilities such as libraries, study spaces and learning platforms. 
  • Settle into Leeds and campus life before your degree begins.  
  • Meet other students and build a community of friends. 

We offer pre-sessional English courses during the academic year, starting in September/October and January. Courses also take place over the summer, from June to September.

The length of course you need depends on your current level of English and on the level required for your degree. 

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Studying an undergraduate pre-sessional at Leeds video transcript.

Find the right course for you  

  1. Choose your year of entry.
  2. Select the type of undergraduate study you’re interested in.
  3. Use the entry requirements on this page to see which pre-sessional course you need.   
  4. Select your preferred pre-sessional course for detailed course information, fees and to apply. 

If you have an English qualification that isn’t IELTS (International English Language Testing System), see our entry requirements page for other English qualifications we accept. 

2024/25 courses and entry requirements

I will be studying an undergraduate degree or the exchange/study abroad programme 

If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0 

Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.0

You need:

Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5

You need:

Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.0

You need:

Your current score: 5.5 with one component (not writing) at 5.0, none below 5.0

You need: 

Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5

You need:

If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 6.5 

Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 4.5

You need:

Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.0

You need:

Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5

You need:

Your current score: 6.0 with two components at 5.5, none below 5.5

You need:

Your current score: 6.0 with one component at 5.5, none below 5.5

You need:​

If your degree requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0 

Your current score: 5.5 with no component below 5.0

You need: 

Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5

You need: 

Your current score: 6.5 with no components below 6.0 

You need: 

Your current score: 6.5 with two components at 6.0, none below 6.0

You need: 

Your current score: 6.5 with one components at 6.0, none below 6.0

You need: 

I will be studying the International Foundation Year 

If your International Foundation Year requires an overall IELTS score of 5.5 

Your current score: 4.0 with no component below 4.0

You need: 

Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.5

You need: 

Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 5.0 

You need: 

Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5

You need: 

If your International Foundation Year requires an overall IELTS score of 6.0  

Your current score: 4.5 with no components below 4.5

You need: 

Your current score: 5.0 with no components below 5.0

You need: 

Your current score: 5.5 with no components below 5.5

You need: 

Your current score: 6.0 with no components below 5.5

You need:

I will be studying at my home university after the course 

Please email the Language Centre via pre-sessional@leeds.ac.uk to discuss the entry requirements for this course. 

If you are under 18 

The minimum age to study on this course is 18. 

If you want to take the course to prepare for the International Foundation Year, and will be under 18 when the course starts, exceptions can be made on an individual basis.

Please email the Language Centre via pre-sessional@leeds.ac.uk for more information. 

Contact us 

If you have any questions, please email the Language Centre via pre-sessional@leeds.ac.uk